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Look for experience from resume writing advisers

Look for resume writing consultants with a four-year college degree, as well as services that have a 5-10 year track record of success on the Internet. Read sample resumes from the resume consultancy and look for membership in professional organizations.

I recommend: Your Best Impression has won multiple awards for their website services. Career Perfect's resume writers go through an extensive certification process.

Look for affiliations with resume consultancy associations

A professional resume writing service will have professional affiliations, and they'll be happy to promote that fact. Look for professional certification in resume writing to prove their expert status.

I recommend: Look for a member of the National Resume Writers' Association on their website. The Professional Association of Resume Writers can link you to a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) in your area, as well as other professionals who can help you along your career path.

Demand original ideas from resume writing services

Anyone can write a resume using a template, but the best resume writing services will design the best resume tailored for you from scratch. When making the most of resume consultants, look for companies that first go through an extensive interview process with the client before producing the resume.

I recommend: Resume Wizards conducts both an interview and a phone call with each client and takes the time to complete the resume to the client's satisfaction. The Resume Studio uses an in-person interview, telephone call or extensive questionnaire to craft a fresh resume for each client.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When evaluating a resume writing service, make sure the service emphasizes correct grammar and spelling. One telltale sign of a poor resume writing service are resumes that are rife with errors.
• •  A resume preparation service can only work with the information they're given. Make sure you have complete, accurate information to provide the resume writer.

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Hire resume consultants that specialize in resume preparation service for your industry

Select resume writing consultants who are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in your business or industry. Ask to see a list of past and present clients, and request references.

I recommend: ResumeEdge has writing professionals with experience in more than 40 specialty areas who skillfully demonstrate expertise in your particular industry. Molly Hollern Creative is a resume consultant and designer with expertise in consumer goods, entertainment, retail and financial industries. Vault.com, Inc. specializes in resume writing for job seekers in the consulting, finance/banking, law, manufacturing, media, military transition and technology industries.

Choose resume writing consulting firms with professional skills

Review the consulting work provided by each resume consultancy firm. Evaluate the firm's experience and qualifications, and request samples of resumes and related personal marketing materials that meet your career objectives. Ask about value-added services like resume distribution, cover letter writing, portfolio development and career coaching.

I recommend: Resume Service Plus offers resume and cover letter samples organized by experience level. In addition to traditional and web-based resume services, A Competitive Edge provides consulting in employment documents, career planning, job search and resume distribution. Creative Keystrokes features a comprehensive menu of resume and career transition services for executives.

Select resume consulting services that meet your budget

Many professional resume services utilize an hourly fee structure for resume writing and design. Several operate on a subscription with a minimum time commitment. Prices range from $80-$1,0000; your resume consulting cost will depend upon the scope of your career services.

I recommend: 1-on-1-Resumes.Com creates custom resumes at competitive prices, and will re-create your resume at no additional charge if you don't get an interview within 30 days. The Resume Studio bases their resume writing on hourly rates, and includes resume consulting price estimates for various career levels. Pongo Software, LLC offers annual or monthly subscription rates for resume services, or a free trial for new users.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some resume consultants use software to produce generic resumes in mass quantities. Be sure your resume consulting services include customized resume writing to meet your specific career needs. You want your resume to reflect your significant professional attributes, not be a standard template.
• •  Resume consulting services are typically tax-deductible. Ask your resume consultant or accountant about how to claim resume writing consulting services on your taxes.

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Get your resume writing education from top industry organizations

Before you can help job seekers with your resume consulting services, you need to learn how to establish yourself as a professional resume consultant. Know what makes a good consultant in order to appear reputable and professional to prospective resume clients.

I recommend: Sign up for the teleseminars offered by The National Resume Writers Association and attend the group's annual career conference. Join the Professional Association of Resume Writers and get training to become a certified resume writer and career coach.

Learn professional resume writing skills to use in resume consultancy

In order to help clients write a winning resume and land their dream job, you have to understand what makes a great resume. It's important in resume consulting to be able to recognize key information in a resume and highlight it to make it stand out. Learn how to write a great resume with these informational resources.

I recommend: Take the Resume Mastery E-Course for resume writing specialists to learn the basics of writing a winning resume every time. Expert Rating offers this online resume writing course to teach you the fine points of resume writing that will be vital in your resume writing consultancy.

Develop resume consulting skills for specific job markets

Some job markets require a specific resume with detailed experience information. It's important in resume consulting to know how to write job-specific resumes for clients seeking careers in job fields like law or health care.

I recommend: Earn master resume writer credentials by completing this online training course from Career Management Alliance. The course will teach you to write expert resumes for all career fields. Gayle Howard teaches people the basics of becoming consultants for resume writing with this quick online training seminar.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Learn how to write both online resumes and hard copies so that you can offer professional resume services for clients that require both.

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National Resume Writers' Association

The National Resume Writers' Association is an organization devoted to promoting high standards in the resume writing profession.

I recommend: The National Resume Writers' Association's own website explains how its members get involved in establishing industry standards. It also identifies the professional groups that belong to the Association and gives general background information on the Association's members.

Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches

The Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches encourages communication among its members so they can build relationships with colleagues that advance the profession in general.

I recommend: The PARWCC's own website will tell you the professional groups that its members belong to as well as the organization's goals. You'll also learn how this professional association goes about the business of setting standards for resume writing and helps its members coach their clients on interviewing skills.

Cover letter

The cover letter is the first page of the job application. It serves to introduce the employer to the candidate in a more personal way than the resume can.

I recommend: Go to The Owl at Purdue for tips on writing a cover letter than most resume consultants follow. The site also identifies the objectives resume consultants expect to achieve with a well-written cover letter.

Thank you letters

Also known as follow up letters, thank you letters that candidates write to interviewers after the interview have become quite standard.

I recommend: Resume Resource not only explains how crucial thank you letters can be, it also provides tips on how to prepare them.

Reference sheets

Another vital part of a resume consultant's job is to counsel clients on how to prepare reference sheets and when to provide them to prospective employers.

I recommend: Learn tips for handling reference sheets at Career Consulting Corner. You'll learn about the best time to offer a reference sheet and what to do with them when you finally go on the job interview.

Salary negotiation

Salary negotiation can be a prickly matter that requires a good deal of advance planning well in advance of the job interview.

I recommend: Salary offers a salary negotiation guide, complete with information and tips most resume consultants adhere to. It shows how to make meaningful salary requests, counter offers and come to agreement on proficiency levels and benchmark jobs.